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ObjectiveTo observe the effect of polysaccharides from root, stem, leaf and fruit of Schisandra chinensis on exercise endurance in the aging mice induced by D-galactose. MethodMale ICR mice were randomly assigned into six groups: blank control group, model group, root polysaccharide group, stem polysaccharide group, leaf polysaccharide group and fruit polysaccharide group. The mice were administrated with distilled water or root, stem, leaf and fruit polysaccharide (total sugar content of 35 mg·kg-1) by gavage. Thirty minutes after the administration, the blank control group was subcutaneously injected with normal saline, and the other groups with D-galactose (300 mg·kg-1), once daily for 6 weeks. The anti-fatigue effects were evaluated by rotarod test, forelimb grip strength test, and weight-loaded swimming test. The fatigue and oxidation indicators such as blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum lactic acid (LD), lactic dehydrogenase (LDH), creatine kinase (CK), superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and reactive oxygen species (ROS) were measured by chemical colorimetry. The protein levels of pro-apoptotic protein B cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2)-associated X protein (Bax), anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 and cleaved cysteinyl aspartate-specific protease-3 (cleaved Caspase-3) in mouse skeletal muscle were detected by Western blot. ResultIn the rotarod test, the time on rod was shorter in the model group than in the blank control group (P<0.01) and the root, stem and fruit polysaccharide groups (P<0.01). In the forelimb grip strength test, the forelimb grip strength in the model group was lower than that in the blank control group (P<0.01) and the root, stem, leaf and fruit polysaccharide groups (P<0.01). In the weight-loaded swimming test, the weight-loaded swimming time in the model group was shorter than that in the blank control group (P<0.01) and the root, stem, leaf and fruit polysaccharide groups (P<0.01). Compared with those in the blank control group, the BUN, LD, LDH and CK levels significantly increased in the model group (P<0.05, P<0.01). The increases in BUN and LDH levels were decreased by the root, stem and fruit polysaccharides (P<0.05, P<0.01) and those in LD and CK by the root, stem, leaf and fruit polysaccharides (P<0.05, P<0.01). Compared with the blank control group, the model group showed decreased SOD and GSH-Px activities (P<0.01) and increased MDA and ROS content (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the root, stem, and fruit polysaccharide increased the SOD activity (P<0.05, P<0.01) and decreased ROS content (P<0.01). The root and stem polysaccharides decreased the MDA content (P<0.01) and increased the GSH-Px activity (P<0.05, P<0.01). Compared with the blank control group, the model group showed up-regulated protein levels of Bax and cleaved Caspase-3 and down-regulated protein level of Bcl-2 (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the root, and stem polysaccharides down-regulated the protein levels of cleaved Caspase-3 (P<0.05) and up-regulated protein level of Bcl-2 (P<0.01). ConclusionThe polysaccharides from the root, stem, leaf, and fruit of S. chinensis have anti-fatigue effect in D-galactose-induced aging mice. The polysaccharides may exert such effect by improving the antioxidant capacity and inhibiting the apoptosis of skeletal muscle cells.
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Excessive exercise makes the body consume more oxygen and produce excessive free radicals. The increased free radicals lead to oxidative stress injury and dysfunctions in liver tissue. Our previous study showed that Anwulignan, an active monomer in Schisandra sphenanthera Rehd. et Wils. (Schisandra), had anti-fatigue effects in mice. However, whether Anwulignan has a protective effect on liver damage in exhausted mice and the mechanism underlying remain elusive. An exhaustive swimming mice model was used to study the protective effects of Anwulignan on liver damage. The involvement of the nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (NRF2)/antioxidant responsive element (ARE) antioxidative pathway in Anwulignan-mediated anti-fatigue was analyzed using NRF2 inhibitor ML385 in HepG2 cells treated with H2O2. Animal welfare and experimental process follow the regulations of the Animal Ethics Committee of Beihua University. Anwulignan significantly lowered serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels, reduced liver tissue damages, increased superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and catalase (CAT), and decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) and 8-hydroxy-2 deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) contents in the livers of exhausted mice, demonstrating a strong antioxidant effect. Furthermore, Anwulignan up-regulated the NRF2/ARE antioxidant pathway in liver tissue, increased B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) expression, and decreased Bcl-2-like protein 4 (Bax) and caspase3 expression. In HepG2 cells, Anwulignan improved the cell viability and SOD activity, reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) and MDA contents, up-regulated the expression of the NRF2/ARE signaling pathway and Bcl-2, and decreased Bax and caspase3 expression in the cells. Furthermore, pretreated ML385 partly abolished all these effects of Anwulignan. Anwulignan protects the liver from damage in the exhausted mice by its antioxidant effects and related to its activation of the NRF2 pathway.
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Laryngeal cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors in the respiratory tumors, and its incidence ranks second highest in the respiratory tumors. Resveratrol (Res) is a kind of polyphenols, which can inhibit nucleotides can inhibit the growth of liver cancer cells, gastric cancer cells, pancreatic cells and other tumor cells by inhibiting ribonucleotide reductase in the cells. Taxol (Tax) is a kind of secondary metabolites of Taxus chinensis, which has anti-tumor activity for breast cancer, cervical cancer, ovarian cancer and other tumors by inhibiting cellular microtubule depolymerization. But at present the effects of resveratrol combined with taxol on human laryngeal carcinoma cell strain Hep-2 and their underlying molecular mechanisms are rarely reported. After human laryngeal cancer cell Hep-2 cells were processed with resveratrol (Res) and taxol (Tax), CCK-8 assay was used to evaluate the effect of these two herbs on the proliferation of cancer cells; AO/PI staining and JC-1 were used to detect Hep-1 cells apoptosis; the expression of Bax, Bcl-2, PARP, TRIB3, and XIAP genes was detected by real time quantitative PCR; the activity of caspase-3 and caspase-8 was determined with quantitative fluorescence method. The experimental results showed that compared with Tax, Res medication alone, joint group significantly enhanced inhibition of Hep-2 cells activity, decreased the dosage of Tax, increased the expression of Bax and PARP, TRIB3, reduced the expression of the Bcl-2 and XIAP, and promoted the activity of caspase-3 and caspase-8. The test results showed that compared with the single medication, combined group could significantly increase the inhibitory effect on Hep-2 cells, significantly reduce Tax dosage, increase expressions of Bax, PARP, TRIB3, reduce expressions of Bcl-2, XIAP, and promote activity of caspase-3, caspase-8. This indicated apoptosis of human laryngeal carcinoma cell strain Hep-2 may be induced with Res, Tax, and the combination of these two herbs by mitochondria pathway. It provides valuable clue for further research on combination of Res and Tax for the treatment of laryngeal cancer, and expanding the combined application of Res and Tax.
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OBJECTIVE: To determine the association between heart rate variability (HRV) and hypertension in Chinese children. METHODS: The study was conducted in First Hospital of Jilin University, China. A total of 101 children were recruited in this study. They were divided into a high systolic blood pressure (SBP) group (HS group) and normal SBP group (NS group) according to the SBP levels. In the second set of experiments, the children were divided into a high diastolic blood pressure (DBP) group (HD group) and normal DBP group (ND group) according to the DBP levels. HRV measurements were performed, and the time domain and power spectrum values were calculated. FINDINGS: The differences of low frequency (LF)/high frequency (HF) ratio, HF, and standard deviation of normal-to-normal RR intervals (SDNN) between daytime and nighttime were obviously abolished in HS and HD groups. The HS group displayed significantly lower values of HRV over a 24 h period compared to the NS group (SDNN, standard deviation of the averaged normal-to-normal RR intervals [SDANN], Triangle Index, root mean square successive difference [RMSSD], total power [TP], ultra-LF [ULF], and HF). Only the Triangle Index in the HD group was lower than that in ND group. CONCLUSION: We provide evidence that HRV is reduced and the circadian rhythm of HRV is weakened in hypertensive children, and hypothesize that a reduced HRV is a potential pathophysiological mechanism linking childhood hypertension and adulthood cardiovascular diseases.
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Endocardial fiborelastosis (EFE) is a common infantile myocardiosis. The pathogenesis of EFE may be associated with viral infection, genetic factors, immune factors and endocardial dysplasia. The fundamental pathological changes of EFE include hyperplasia of endocardium elastic fibers and collagen fibers. Acute EFE is a frequent type. Clinical manifestations of EFE are non-specific and children with EFE mainly present with congestive heart failure. Echocardiography is very helpful to the diagnosis of EFE. It is necessary to differentiate EFE from pneumonia complicated by acute congestive heart failure, viral myocarditis and anomalous origin of the left coronary artery. Treatment is meant to control symptoms of congestive heart failure. Patients who respond well to digitalis and have good medication compliance have a favorable prognosis.
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Humans , Diagnosis, Differential , Endocardial Fibroelastosis , Diagnosis , Therapeutics , PrognosisABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the expression of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) in the myocardial tissue of mice with viral myocarditis (VMC).</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Balb/c mice were infected with coxsackie virus B3 (CVB3) to establish VMC model. The mice were divided into control group (n = 50) and VMC group (n = 50). on days 4, 7, 14 and 21 after infection, heart specimens of 8 mice were randomly taken and examined after HE staining for myocardial necrosis and cellular infiltration. The area of positive Masson stained myocardium collagen fibers was measured, and collagen volume fraction (CVF) was measured. Then the level of serum creatine phosphokinase-MB (CKMB) was determined. The levels of CTGF and TGF-β₁ were detected by streptavidin peroxidase immunoperoxidase technique. Expression of CTGF and TGF-β₁ were detected with reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). At the same time, the correlations were analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>(1) The level of CKMB peaked on day 7, and decreased afterwards (455.45 ± 37.95, 606.95 ± 35.64, 573.62 ± 42.90, 308.60 ± 20.49, respectively, 4 - 21 d points), in which 4, 7, 14 d points, there was significant difference compared with control group (t = 6.144, 12.558, 11.182, respectively, P < 0.01). (2) CVF increased significantly on day 14 (8.22 ± 1.95, t = 4.486, P < 0.01) and day 21 (9.46 ± 1.87, t = 4.486, P < 0.01) in VMC group. (3) Measured by streptavidin peroxidase immunoperoxidase technique, the levels of CTGF (171.50 ± 10.25, 141.70 ± 10.863, 110.35 ± 11.051, 81.05 ± 10.190, respectively, 4 - 21 d points) and TGF-β₁ (184.90 ± 11.480, 150.25 ± 9.915, 103.50 ± 10.455, 84.15 ± 9.848, respectively, 4 - 21 d points) increased after day 4 in VMC (P < 0.01). (4) Measured by RT-PCR, the expression of CTGF mRNA and TGF-β₁ increased in VMC group, and the increase was enhanced with the disease development (P < 0.01). (5) The expression of CTGF and TGF-β₁ was positively linearly correlated (r = 0.987, P < 0.01), the expression of CTGF was negatively correlated with CVF (r = -0.901, P < 0.01), but the expression of CTGF was detected earlier than myocardial fibrosis.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The increase of CTGF expression was associated with the severity of myocardial fibrosis in VMC. These results suggest that abnormal expression of CTGF may take part in the development of fibrosis in VMC.</p>
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Animals , Male , Mice , Connective Tissue Growth Factor , Metabolism , Mice, Inbred BALB C , Myocarditis , Metabolism , Pathology , Virology , Myocardium , Metabolism , Pathology , Transforming Growth Factor beta1 , MetabolismABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the ECG features in children with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), and related factors for the occurrence of arrhythmia secondary to DCM.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Data from 68 children with DCM from January 1998 to March 2011 were studied. The children were classified into three groups: severe arrhythmia (n=42), non-severe arrhythmia (n=20) and non-arrhythmia (n=6). Left ventricular end diastolic diameter (LVED), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and left ventricular fractional shortening (LVFS) were compared.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Abnormal ECG results were found in all of the 68 children with DCM. Sinus tachycardia (91%) and ectopic pulsatile (86%) were common. LVED in the severe arrhythmia group (74±6 mm) was greater than that in the non-severe arrhythmia group (65±4 mm; P<0.05) and non-arrhythmia group (61±3 mm; P<0.05). LVED in the non-severe arrhythmia group was also greater than that in the non-arrhythmia group (P<0.05). LVEF and LVFS in the severe arrhythmia group were (30±11)% and (22±4)%, respectively, which were lower than those in the non-severe arrhythmia group[(37±12)% and (28±5)%, respectively]and non-arrhythmia group[(45±9)% and (34±7)%, respectively](P<0.05). There were also significant differences in the LVEF and LVFS between the non-severe arrhythmia and non-arrhythmia groups (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The common abnormal ECG findings are sinus tachycardia and ectopic pulsatile in children with DCM. Arrhythmia is one of the main clinical manifestations of DCM. The occurrence of arrhythmia is associated with the left ventricular size and heart function.</p>
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Adolescent , Child , Child, Preschool , Female , Humans , Infant , Male , Arrhythmias, Cardiac , Cardiomyopathy, Dilated , ElectrocardiographyABSTRACT
<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Abnormal apoptosis of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) is an important pathophysiological process in the pulmonary artery structural remodeling and pulmonary hypertension. We investigated possible effect of endogenous hydrogen sulfide (H2S) on apoptosis of PASMCs during the development of pulmonary hypertension induced by high pulmonary blood flow.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Thirty-nine male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to 4-week control, 4-week shunt, 4-week shunt + propargylglycine (PPG), 11-week control, 11-week shunt and 11-week shunt + sodium hydrosulfide (NaHS) groups. Rats in 4-week shunt, 4-week shunt + PPG, 11-week shunt and 11-week shunt + NaHS groups underwent an abdominal aorta-inferior vena cava shunt. Rats in 4-week shunt + PPG group were intraperitoneally injected with PPG, an inhibitor of endogenous H2S production, for 4 weeks. Rats in 11-week shunt + NaHS group were intraperitoneally injected with NaHS, a H2S donor, for 11 weeks. Lung tissue H2S was evaluated by sulfide-sensitive electrode. Apoptosis of PASMCs were detected by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated dUTP nick end labelling (TUNEL). Expressions of Fas, bcl-2 and caspase-3 in the PASMCs were analyzed with immunochemical staining.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Four weeks after the shunting operation, the apoptosis of PASMCs and expression of Fas and caspase-3 were significantly decreased (P < 0.01), but expression of bcl-2 increased significantly (P < 0.01). PPG administration further inhibited the apoptosis of PASMCs, downregulated the expression of Fas and caspase-3 (P < 0.01), but increased the expression of bcl-2 (P < 0.01). After 11 weeks of shunting operation, the apoptosis of PASMCs and expression of Fas and caspase-3 were significantly decreased (P < 0.01), but expression of bcl-2 increased obviously (P < 0.01). NaHS administration significantly increased the apoptosis of PASMCs, upregulated the expression of Fas and caspase-3, but inhibited the expression of bcl-2.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>H2S induces the apoptosis of PASMCs in the development of high pulmonary blood flow-induced pulmonary hypertension by activating the Fas pathway and inhibiting the bcl-2 pathway.</p>
Subject(s)
Animals , Male , Rats , Alkynes , Pharmacology , Apoptosis , Blood Flow Velocity , Physiology , Blotting, Western , Glycine , Pharmacology , Hemodynamics , Hydrogen Sulfide , Pharmacology , Hypertension, Pulmonary , Immunohistochemistry , In Situ Nick-End Labeling , Myocytes, Smooth Muscle , Cell Biology , Pulmonary Artery , Cell Biology , Random Allocation , Rats, Sprague-DawleyABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the relationship between the insertion/deletion(I/D) polymorphism of the angiotensin convcer-(ting) enzyme(ACE) gene and congenital heart disease(CHD) and to quest the predisposing gene of congenital heart disease by analyzing the polymorphism of the ACE gene in patients with CHD.Methods Sixty-eight patients with CHD were served as observing group,sixty-four patients without CHD as control group.We drew DNA of leukocyte from blood by the method of saturation phenol and chloroform and we amplified the ACE gene using the DNA polymerase chain reaction technique.The amplification products were employed electrohoresis in 2% sepharose.the polymorphism of the angiotensin converting enzyme gene was analyzed under ultraviolet lump.Results In the obser-(ving) group,the genotype distribution frequency of the ACE was II in 12(17.65%),DD in 32(47.06%) and ID in 24(35.29%),and in the control group,it was II in 20(31.25%),DD in 10(15.63%) and ID in 34(53.12%).Conclusions The study result clarifies that CHD has close correlation to the polymorphism of the angiotensin converting enzyme gene.The relative risk of DD genotype is higher than that of the others,and DD genotype possibly is the predisposing genotype of CHD D allele perhaps is the susceptibility gene of CHD.
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Objective To explore the changes of serum nitric oxide(NO) and trace element Zinc in children with pneumonia and their clinical significance.Methods The observing group contained 48 patients with pneumonia in our hospital from Oct.2005 to May 2006,who were collected 3 mL of blood sample on empty stomach on the second day.Twenty-six of them had been collected serum during their convalescence stage.The control group contained 20 children,who were healthy in the same stage.The levels of NO of 48 pneumonia,26 convalescence stage(recovery group) and 20 healthy patients were determined by UV-2100 spectrophotometer.The Zinc in serum was determined by P-E503-mode atomic absorption spectrophotometric analysis antigenic in those patients.Blood viscosity was measured and analyzed with the statistic analysis SPSS 10.0 software.Results The levels of NO in pneumonia children[(57.76?19.41) ?mol/L] were significantly higher than that in control group [(25.09?5.51) ?mol/L] and recovery group[(30.08?8.05) ?mol/L](P_a
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Objective To determine the correlation of plasma brain natriuretic peptide(BNP) with severe degree of dilated cardiomyopathy in children.Methods Thirty children with dilated cardiomyopathy and 30 healthy subjects were selected in this degree of study, plasma BNP concentration was measured and compared among groups by using t test.Correlation of BNP levels with left ventricular ejection fraction and heart function was investigated using linear regression analysis.Results Children with dilated cardiomyopathy had significantly higher mean BNP levels compared with healthy children [(429.4?270.2) ng/L vs (67.0?10.2) ng/L].Significantly positive correlations were found between BNP and heart classification(r=0.950 P
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Objective To investigate the epidemiological characteristics and clinical prognosis of Kawasaki disease(KD) in Jilin pro-vince for recent 10 years.Methods The survey forms unified of standard KD epidemiology were used and sent to the province′s 32 hospitals above the county and city level with pediatric in-patients,in order to conduct a survey on the KD children during 10 years period from Jan.1,1999 to Dec.31,2008.SPSS 15.0 software was used to analyze the data.Results There were 93.75% of the survey forms came back.Five hundred and seventy-seven KD cases were reported from the 32 hospitals of 8 districts.The incidence of KD was of an increasing trend.It was 18 cases in 1999,while it was up to 122 cases in 2008.Male patients were 382 cases(66.2%),female patients were 195 cases(33.8%).The ratio of male and female was 1.96 to 1.The age of patients varied from 58 days to 14 years,those under 5 years of age accounted of 88.73%.Fourteen(2.4%) cases were found to have the sequelae of coronary artery disease.The ratio of male and female was 3.671.The younger the age,the higher the incidence of cardiac sequelae.The mainest cardiac sequelae was coronary artery ectasia.The time of visiting was(7.58?4.63) days after the onset.The KD children from 4 minority peoples including 50 cases accounted for 8.7%.The disease occurred all over the year,and had obvious season peak.Coronary artery lesions accounted for 63.26%.There was no death during acute pe-riod.The recurrence rate was 0.5%.Conclusions The incidence of KD in Jilin is in an increasing trend.The age and gender distribution are not exactly the same to pre-vious reports.There are two seasonal peaks including summer and winter,which is different to previous reports of domestic,United State,Japan.